Portable beverage dispenser



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511113159' T16 3935 L2. Q. ARMBRUSTER PORTABLE BEVERAGE DISPENSER I Filed Feb. 14, 1955 FRED c ARM/SRU; TER.

H E: W W /7 Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED. STATES N PATENT "OFFICE, Y 2,008,121 i Y Y PoRfrABLE BEVERAGE DISPENSER Fred C. Armbruster, Rochester, N. Y. Application February 14, 1933sera1N0. 656,739 9 oiaims. (o1. 22S-40) This invention relates to improved means for `the convenienthandling, in trade, of beverages,

for example, beer, and also provides improved and novel means for the dispensing of such a beverage lin the home, or in a cafe where the beverage is to be served and consumed.. The invention `therefore relates to an improvediorm of container suitable for the shipment and distribu tion of beverage liquids in trade, and such container is constructed and intended for ,use in conjunction with a `portable refrigerator unit or cooler, into which the container may be inserted and secured or y.retained during the time that the 'beverage is being chilled, and then served or dispensed for consumption purposes.

It is proposed, in the practice'of thisinvention, that the customer or consumer will be furnished with the refrigerating or cooling unit, `and that such customer will purchase the beverage conditioned upon its delivery to him in Vcontainers which are constructed `as herein disclosed, and which containers `are -designed to fit snugly within the cooling unit, and` to-:be detachably retained therein ain--such' a manner. that the combined structure comprises a 'convenient and `portable dispensingioutt which occupies onlyfa small space and can therefore be easily mov-ed about, for example, from one room to another as the occasion ,may require. The combined unit may lbe made :of .diiTerent sizes andicapacitiesydepend- Ving on the intended use, thatis, for `home or cafe; .and it is 'also intended that the improved fconv`tainer o this invention may be used as a dispensing unit in connectionwith Aother types of refrigerating or coolingmeans than the specific construction of coolerherein disclosed.

In the past, beverage liquids,and notable fermented beverages such as beer, have been shipped land handled in trade either in wooden kegs, or -in fbottles varranged in cases. Both known forms of containers are subject `to objections which -detract from their usefulness. Kegs as well as bottles are diiiicult to clean and maintain in sanitary condition; and in dispensing from Aa keg .it is generally necessary to provide permanent pipe connections andvalves, the cleaning .and maintenance of which in a cleanly and sanitary condition present practical diiliculties. To overcome `these objections, the present invention lseeks to provide va new kind of container of such lsize and weight as can be conveniently handled in shipping and having a form and closure which `admits 'of :easy laccess to `the :entire interior sur- E faces 'for thorough and complete cleansing. The container, as well :as the cooler unit, Kadmit `of inexpensive manufacture, and their joint use in `the homeprovide ya. convenient dispensing device not heretofore provided or known. Other conspicuous advantages and objects of. this in,-

yvention will be apparent fromthe followingspeciication which describes an embodiment of `the invention which is illustrated `in the accompanying drawing. e

Referring to the drawing, Y

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of theportable :beverage dispensing device; g

Fig. 2 is a front elevation-.of theassembleddevices supported `on one cornerV of aj kitchen table.; and f f, i,

Fig. 3 is a side elevationof the beverage container. Y l

The portable coolerconsists of a cabinet/TI, .the

walls of which are provided with or ,constructed of heat insulating material as well known inthe art. f The cabinet Iv is `provided'with ran `inner compartment having an open end fertile-insertion of the beverage tank 2. I .The top `of fthe cabinet lI is `provided with a Irelatively large opening for the admission of crushed ice Ior other refrigerating medium into the space between the `par,- ltition 20 which denes the inner compartment and the inner Walls of Vcabinet I;

The 4opening in the top `of the cabinet is normally closed by a removabletray 3 which is providedfwith lifting handles 4 the latter also operating lock catches `for securing the tray l'in cabinet top opening.v

The beverage container Zcomprisesasubstantially` rectangular tank I-I, provided with a detachable closure I2. The body of thecontainer is preferably made from heavy gauge sheet metal.

The interior surfaces of the tank maybe :suitably coated with a material'which is chemically inert tov fermented beverage and the like.` A reinforcing ring member I3 is secured to theedges of the open end otzthe Atank II by welding or other means. `The closure. I2 is preferably formed or" some heat insulating composition material, for

example, bakelite, andis removably secured :to

support for the inner end of the beverage tank. The partition is secured in any appropriate way to the inner walls of the cabinet.

The bottom wall 5 of the cabinet is provided with a plurality of tubular chambers or recesses 6 which serve as housings for rods 'I which4 are slidably positioned'in the chambers. When the dispensing unit is to be used, the rods 'I are partially withdrawn from the housings 6 and in their extended position provide support for a drip tray 8. `The rods 'I may be provided with suitable friction surfaces or stops to retain them either in the extended or in the closed position. The cabinet I is also provided withra drainvcock 9 for the removal of water from the interior of the cabinet when ice is used as the cooling me.- dium. Likewise the drip trayA is provided with a hose nipple I for conducting away spilled beverage.

AThe beverage package 2 is rigidly clamped :within the cabinet- I byV means of the clamps I 'andlwing nuts III which are threaded on studs projecting from the-cabinet Wall. The clamps engage the lateral `edgesof closure I2.V

The'closure I2 is provided with a central opening in which a pipen coupling I8 is rigidly secured. Atub'ef-Iis `positioned withinthe tank with V'one end rigidly secured to the coupling I8 or to the closure about the coupling by soldering or eduiv'alentmeans.v The innernendof the tube I9 is positioned nearA the bottom of the tank II at `-the-side opposite. the tank closure I2. The inner fis provided with internal threads for engaging vexternal'threads on a faucet or tap 24 provided with a spoutV25-at`right angles to the axis of the passage through coupling I8, nipple 2B, stop cock 2|, nipple 22 and fitting 23. Thus a controlled passage is-provided through which-the beverage is dispensed. A

The handle y28 is vprovided at either end with 'offset 'supporting flanges 26 which are rigidly fastened tothe closure I2. A valved coupling Id v'in `communication with the interior of the tank A2 and the atmosphere is also secured in the clo- 'sure I2. VThis valve-may be operated to relieve A'pressure in the tank while. lling or toY admit f fluid pressure for charging the contents of the tank.

My improved beverage dispensing unit is operated as follows: The beverage package 2 which hasbeen partially or completely filled with a beverage and preferably charged with a 4fluid under :pressure by the beverage manufacturer, is insertl red in the cabinet and securely clamped therein.

A-refrigerating medium, for'exarnple, crushed ice, is then .introduced'into the cabinet through the vopening uncovered by removal Yof the tray 3 and Vis packed into thespace between the beverage .tank partition and the inner walls of the cabinet.` The tray is then replaced on the top of the cabinet. Next, a closed faucet or tap is screwed through the handle 28 into the fitting 23 and the stop cock 2Iis` opened.Y After extending the rods ready for service. When the faucet or tap is opened, the pressure of the charged beverage within the tank forces beverage to iioW from the tank through the tube I9 and accompanying fittings in the quantity desired.

When the tank is empty it may be quickly and easily replaced by another charged beverage packvage. These beverage packages may be of such size as to contain a volume equal to that contained in a case or more of bottled beverage. Larger sized units areiwell adaptedA for use in cafes. The beverage package is provided with a convenient handle which facilitates its handling in distribution to the trade. This handle enables carrying the beverage package alone or carrying theV complete refrigerated dispensing I device when the package is inserted and secured inthe cooling unit or cabinet.

Besides use in combination with the herein disclosed refrigerating cabinet, the beverage package may be used without said cabinet. The pack- `age may'be inserted in the ordinary household refrigerator for cooling the beverage Vwhen a cooled portable dispensing unitk is not available. The package may also be used in Van upright position as shownin Fig.l 3 of the drawing. In such case, anvelbow'ttingZ'I as shown dotted in Figs. 1 and 2 may-be attached to the spout 24 of the faucet 23 to direct the flow of beverage downward'into aglassor other dispensing receptacle.

. It Will also beapparent thatthecooling vcabinet I may be equipped with known means, other 'than ice, for cooling or refrigerating'the contents of the removable package receptacle. Thus,

Ycooling coilsfor connection with household or other'mechanic'al refrigerating machines may be v:installed within the cabinet space and positioned adjacent the lside walls or partitions 2!! which de- -ne the open-ended compartment of the cabinet. lPreferably;such'cooiing Vcoils should be removably associatedwith the cabinet,and for thispurfpose may be conveniently supported from the reemova'ble vtray 3 which closes the top of the cabinet, and in which tray the fittings necessary for operatively connecting the coil or coils to a me- -chanical refrigerating system may be installed. A The complete beverage dispensing unit is well adapted for use as a vportable bari in the home of the consumer. It may easily be carried .from

room to room and set up where desired. The trays provide for catching` all drip and also provide a place for'storing drinking glasses.` The use of a sealed beverage package supplied by the beverage'rnanufacturer obviates the necessity for the consumer touclean and refill the beverage con- Vtainernand dispensing fittings.

Having now described my invention, what claim as new is:

1. A portable beveragek dispensing device com- `prising arrefrigerating Vcabinet and a sealed beverage package detachably secured therein, lthe said package being insertable and removable from said cabinet as a sealed unit, the said cabinet having an open ended compartment of shape and size to accpminodate the said package, the said package having secured thereto an end closure fec'tively sealing the open end of the cabinet cornpartment.

2. A portable beverage dispensing device .com-

prising 'a refrigerating cabinet and a sealedbev- ,'I' and vplacing apdriptray thereon,k the unit'is era'ge package detachably secured therein, the'A said package being insertable and removable from said cabinet as a sealed unit, the said cabinet having an open ended compartment of shape and size to accommodate the said package, the said package having secured thereto an end closure which also forms a closure for the said compartment, and a valved outlet fitting carried by said closure for dispensing the package contents.

3. A portable beverage dispensing device comprising a refrigerating cabinet and a sealed beverage package detachably secured therein, the

said package being insertable and removable from said cabinet as a sealed unit, the said cabinet having an open ended compartment of shape and size to accommodate the said package, the said package having secured thereto an end closure which also forms a closure for the said compartment, a valved outlet fitting for dispensing the package contents carried by said closure, and a carrying handle mounted upon the closure of the package for handling the said device as a unit.

4. A portable beverage dispensing device comprising a refrigerating cabinet and a sealed beverage package detachably secured therein, the said cabinet having an open ended compartment of shape and size to accommodate the said package, the said package being provided with an end closure Which also forms a closure for the said compartment, securing means mounted on the cabinet for engaging the package and retaining it Within the cabinet with the package end Wall effectively sealing the open end of the cabinet compartment, and a tray detachably fastened to said cabinet and forming a closure for an opening in the top of said cabinet.

5. A portable beverage dispensing device comprising a refrigerating cabinet and a sealed beverage package detachably secured therein, the said cabinet having an open ended compartment of shape and size to accommodate the said package, the said package being provided with an end closure Which also forms a closure for the said compartment, a valved outlet fitting carried by said closure for dispensing the package contents, and a drip tray positioned beneath said tting and removably supported upon rods which extend from and are adapted to slide in rod housings provided in the base of the cabinet.

6.,In a beverage dispensing unit, a beverage container to be received therein comprising a tank having an open end, a closure member for said end, a handle secured to said member, and a beverage dispensing fitting passing through said handle.

7. In a beverage dispensing unit, a beverage container to be received therein comprising a metal tank having an open end, a closure member of heat insulating material for and secured to said end, handling means secured to said member, and a beverage dispensing fitting secured in said closure, the said beverage container being insertable and removable from said unit as a sealed tank.

8. In a beverage dispensing unit, a beverage container to be received therein comprising a tank having an open end, a closure member for said end, handling means secured to said member, a beverage dispensing tting passing through said handle, and a second valved fitting in said closure member.

9. In a beverage dispensing unit, a sealed beverage package lto be received therein comprising a metal tank open at one end, a reinforcing ring secured to the open end of said tank, a closure member of heat insulating material for said open end, said closure being detachably secured to said ring, a valved dispensing fitting secured in said closure, and a second valved fitting in said closure, the said sealed beverage package being insertable and removable from said unit.

FRED C. ARMBRUSTER. 

